Starland District Luncheon Surprise in Savannah GA

Just a bit south of the Savannah GA historic district, even beyond glorious 37th street, there is a neighborhood on the rise, the Starland District, home to quite a few distractions that are worthy of pulling one out of the magnetic field of the Historic Downtown: Back in the Day Bakery, Color Boxx Salon, and artist workshops behind the Savannah City Mission. As a young and frugal couple, the appeal of the Starland Cafe was driven by economics, my newly acquired VIP dining card offered 15% off my entire bill. One would assume the Cafe would be situated right along Bull Street in the trendy, newer construction, modern facade in which other hip businesses sit. However, just a half a block east of Bull on 41st sits a simple 2-story home typical of the area. Our friend met us at the front door where we were greeted by an artsy and vibrant atmosphere of bright colors, local art, and a large chalkboard upon which was scrawled the daily specials. I opted for the 1/2 and 1/2 combo featuring turkey meatloaf panini with bacon, Muenster, and caramelized onions coupled with the aptly named Kitchen-Sink salad. My wife chose the Blue Moon salad and our friend chose the soup of the day, Turkey Chili with grilled herb ciabatta bread.

We grabbed our drinks and sat down. Iced tea was my flavor and upon tasting my slightly sweetened glass, I realized that it was not your everyday Luzianne but rather an interesting blend that invigorated my palate. After a few minutes of chatter about how fun and unexpected the place was, our food was delivered timely and piping hot. The staff was ultra friendly and happy to please any request made. The food was absolutely ….scrumptious! The meatloaf panini was full of robust flavor and the accompanying barbecue sauce was a stellar hit with the Muenster and onions. My kitchen sink salad nearly exploded with toppings such as golden raisins, artichoke hearts, dates, red onion, red grapes, crunchy lo-mein noodles, and fire-roasted tomatoes and was dressed just enough to wet the leaves (my personal preference). Cami’s salad was piled high with blue cheese crumbles, crisp bacon, almonds. The turkey chili had great deep flavors only accomplished by a careful flavor layering with just a tiny touch of sweet left on the palate. The VIP card brought the total to just under $30 for our three entrees. At $10 a person, we found it a relative bargain; the food definitely spoke to the quality of care and ingredients. If you intend to try something new, or go on an antiques excursion down Abercorn, Habersham or Bull, perhaps to “Pinch of the Past,” do not pass this gem up. The Starland Cafe is a new favorite of ours, especially since we live a mere half-mile away!